Classic Pens LR1 Eagle Chief 2001

by Jim Mamoulides, January 26, 2024

Classic Pens LR1 Eagle Chief fountain pen 2001

A Sterling Collaboration

The Classic Pens Lambrou Rossi LR collection was a collaboration between Andreas Lambrou and Paul Rossi. Lambrou and Rossi met for the first time at the Los Angeles Pen Show in 1991. Over time they traded some vintage pens and Lambrou discovered Rossi's knowledge of pen design and silver craft. When Lambrou moved to Los Angeles, California in 2000 he began his long time working relationship with Rossi.

Classic Pens was founded in England in 1987 by Andreas Lambrou and Keith G. Brown with their goal to offer high end limited edition fountain pens. The first of these was released in 1990, the specially engraved Classic Pens CP1, a limited run of 250 pens based on the sterling silver Sheaffer Targa. The company continued making limited edition pens for more than twenty-five years.

Paul Rossi was an exceptional creator of hand crafted fountain pens, with his most notable and admired work done in sterling silver. Rossi created many custom pens for collectors including overlays on existing pen models and entire pens, except for the nib and feed. Paul passed away on June 19, 2021. He was 73.

Classic Pens LR1 Eagle Chief fountain pen 2001

The first collaboration was a series of sterling silver filigree overlays on Parker Duofold Centennial fountain pens. Because Rossi lived only a short distance from Classic Pen’s Los Angeles office, they had the opportunity to meet frequently in person and discuss each new pen’s design. On a trip to the UK, Lambrou showed his Parker Pen Company contacts some of Rossi’s silver filigree work and they gave permission to use the Duofold Centennial for the planned Lambrou Rossi LR Collection.

Development work on the LR pens started in 2000 and by the end of that year, Lambrou and Rossi decided on five designs. The collection, numbered LR1 to LR5, debuted at the February, 2001 Los Angeles Pen Show.

The Eagle Chief

The first pen in the new collection was the Classic Pens LR1 Eagle Chief fountain pen. The prototype design by Rossi was based on some of his earlier silver filigree work that portrayed a Native American warrior with a single feather headdress.

Classic Pens LR1 Eagle Chief fountain pen 2001

Feathers in Native American headdresses are powerful symbols. The number and species of feathers have meaning, with eagle feathers being the most prized as a symbol of bravery and strength. Warriors earned each feather for success in battle, approved by their tribal leaders. Full feather headdresses were reserved for tribal chiefs and spiritual leaders, depending on the traditions of each tribe.

Rossi expanded on his original design for this limited edition production pen. On the barrel is a Native American chief with full feather headdress and holding a spear. On the cap is an eagle soaring in flight with the full sun and mountains in the background. Eagles were a favorite subject for Rossi. The eagle and chief together give the design its name. The barrel has two decorative bands above and below the main design with repeating diamond and Native American style cross cutouts. It's not known if Rossi selected these from specific Native American symbols or chose them artistically.

Both the cap and barrel overlays are hallmarked 925 in an oval, indicating sterling silver, on the front near where the cap and barrel meet, and below the clip on the cap. The barrel overlay has Paul Rossi’s initials on either side of the hallmark. The back side of the barrel overlay is engraved with the edition number, as “No 9” for number nine.

I don’t know how many pens were actually made, but I recall the edition was to be a total of ten. This example is number 9, so it’s likely that ten were made. These pens are highly prized, and a complete set is very valuable. They are rarely available for purchase.

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References

“Feathers in Southeast American Indian Ceremonialism”, by Victoria Lindsay Levine, Originally Published in 1991, © Penn Museum 2022

“Native American Feather Symbolism”, March 2, 2021, © 2024 Indian Traders

“Remembering Paul Rossi: September 24, 1948 - June 19, 2021”, by Nicky Pessaroff, © 2011 – 2024 Magzter Inc.